Pence underscores US support for resumption of Cyprus talks

US Vice President Mike Pence has underscored US support for the resumption of the UN-facilitated talks in Switzerland.

A White House Spokesman said in a written statement that in a telephone conversation on Wednesday with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the “Vice President underscored U.S. support for the resumption of UN-facilitated talks in Switzerland and expressed hope that the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders will agree to a settlement that would reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation to the benefit of all Cypriots.”

Akinci and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will travel to Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where the Conference on Cyprus will reconvene on June 28 with the participation of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom as guarantor powers, and in the presence of the European Union as an observer.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.